The Fifth Annual Bill “Mr. Wildcat” Keightley Award will be presented to Erin Baxter from Pleasure Ridge Park School during the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation’s 2022 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony on March 20th at the Lexington Griffin Gate Marriott Resort.
Nominations were submitted from across the state for this prestigious award which honors a Kentucky high school senior basketball team manager, who exemplifies the essence of “team player”. Someone who supports their team with passion, dedication and enthusiasm while also performing well off the court, in the classroom and in the community.
Erin Baxter, a senior at Pleasure Ridge Park High School said, “I have learned how to work and get things done on time and efficiently as well as how to make friends and meet new people over the years of being the Boys Basketball Manager. I have been able to use my time management skills to earn a 3.94 GPA, while being a member of many clubs and activities. I am looking forward to taking the skills I learned from managing the basketball team with me to college as I play Volleyball and complete an Athletic Training Program. I also developed a passion for PRP Basketball and sports.”
As well as managing all four years, she’s also been on the Honor Roll each year of her high school career. Erin has played Volleyball and fast pitch Softball and is very active in several student groups and activities at PRP including: Beta Club, National Honors Society and Yearbook. She has also volunteered in Greenwood Elementary’s ‘Everyone Reads’ Program and has volunteered during Vacation Bibble School at Beechland Baptist
Church. She has been accepted into Spalding University and plans to be accepted into the Master of Science in Athletic Training Program upon completing the appropriate prerequisites.
William “Mr. Wildcat” Bill Keightley played basketball at Kavanaugh High School in Lawrenceburg, KY where he graduated in 1944. He then attended Eastern Kentucky University until he entered the U.S. Marine Corps to serve his county in World War II.
Mr. Keightley served as the Equipment Manager for the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team from 1962 until his death in 2008. He served under coaches Adolph Rupp, Joe B. Hall, Eddie Sutton, Rick Pitino, Tubby Smith, and Billy Gillespie. Keightley was part of three NCAA Championship teams and 12 South Eastern Conference Championship teams in his 46 years of tenure.
All sports fans are welcome to attend or view the 2022 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony. To learn more about the event visit http://www.mrandmisskybasketball.com. For questions please email JenniferHunt@kylionseye.org or call 270-999-4887.
The 11th annual Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Award Ceremony serves as a fundraiser for the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation, who has announced Mr. Kentucky Basketball since 1954 and Miss Kentucky Basketball since 1976. To learn more about KLEF’s mission and our programs and services please visit http://www.kylionseye.org.